Fourth of July (July 1964)

“A Teenager in Love” (instrumental)

Listen to Chapter 8

The Fourth of July holiday weekend crept up on the little town of Riverdale as quickly as the summer mornings’ warmth crept up on the sleeping girls.

“Come on, gals, rise and shine!” The masculine voice rang from the doorway.

At the sight of Bob, both Sandra and Julie grabbed for the blankets they were already under as they let out a weak squeal.

“You’d better hurry if we’re going over to Oak Grove,” Bob insisted. “It’s almost eight—”

Julie was the first to jump from the bed. Oak Grove meant just one thing—Allen. Why else had Sandra stayed overnight except that they could get an early start?

Julie had quite forgotten her recent fears and doubts about Allen that she had expressed to Bob and Sandra. Sandra hoped to herself that her and Bob’s influence on the younger couple would be a good one. After meeting at the Oak Grove church where Allen was home for the weekend, the four once again shared the familiar old happiness and Christian fellowship.

“I guess I’ll see you tonight in Riverdale,” Allen said when Bob and Sandra were ready to go.

Julie nodded. “Okay.”

*****

It was another delightful pool party. Dr. and Mrs. Donaldson were so nice to the youth in sharing their pool and even providing refreshments. Bob was thinking of the wonderful evening they had spent as he made his way home from Sandra’s house. Allen and Julie seemed to have a great time despite that little quarrel they had had after church earlier today. Bob hoped it wouldn’t spoil things for them; they already had enough odds against them….

“Well, wouldn’t you know it?” Bob smiled to himself as he pulled his car over to the curb in front of Julie’s house rather than behind Allen’s car in the driveway. But the house was strangely cold as Bob went inside. Allen and Julie sat at the kitchen table, both with a half-eaten piece of cake and only a fleeting glance occasionally for each other.

Finally, Allen forced a chuckle. “Man to man, Bob,” he said, “can I impose on you?”

Bob sensed Allen wanted to be alone with Julie just then. “Sure. But come on out and say goodnight before you go.”

Out in his trailer, Bob wondered just what exactly could be going on. After what seemed like endless hours of inextricable curiosity, Bob heard violent sobbing. Peeping through the trailer blinds, he saw two silhouettes on the porch.

“Allen, don’t leave me!” Julie was crying.

Allen seemed to say something, but Bob couldn’t quite hear. “He just better have a good explanation for hurting my ‘little sis’,” Bob said to himself as he turned from the window.

Presently there was a faint knock on the trailer door. Allen entered, slowly and silently. In the darkness, Bob wasn’t sure if that was a tear in the corner of Allen’s eye.

“Well, Bob,” he mumbled, “Julie and I—w-we broke up.”

Bob hardly knew what to say. “Y—you did?”

“She did it,” Allen said. “She said we should call it quits, but I guess she really didn’t want to. I—I guess it must have hurt her—” Allen broke down and sobbed at that point.

“Well, things like that do hurt, I guess,” Bob replied quietly.

“Oh, Bob!” Allen sobbed, shaking his head. “I just didn’t think it would happen! I was such a big fool to treat her that way. I—I—”

Bob placed his hand on Allen’s trembling shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” Bob sympathized. “I know, love is deep—”

“Bob?”

“Yes, Allen?”

“She—she told Sandra a-and you everything—didn’t she?”

Bob nodded quietly. “We understand. We’re praying for you both.”

For a long while the two sat in the silent darkness, neither knowing what to say. Allen only knew he needed the understanding prayers of someone like Bob, and Bob knew he had to fill that need.

“Let’s pray,” Bob said quietly, at last. And the two knelt.

*****

“But it just can’t happen!” Sandra exclaimed when Bob broke the news to her.

“Well, honey, maybe it’s best—”

“How can you say that, Bob Miller?” Sandra was insistent. “Look how long it’s been—almost four years—nearly twice as long as we’ve been going together. Poor Julie—she must really be an emotional wreck! Wonder if she’ll go back to Rafael—or Glen or Larry. Too bad Greg Schultz isn’t coming back to La Paloma. ‘Course, there’s still Kurt and Bill. Hey, yeah, Bob! You’re pretty chummy with Bill lately—get busy!”

The next few days were miserable for Julie. As she had always done after breaking up with a boyfriend, she made a trip to the beauty shop for a drastic haircut. Soon she tied her long flowing hair with a crimson ribbon and put in an out-of-the-way corner of her dresser along with Allen’s many letters. Even Bob, so very partial to long hair on a girl, had to admit that Julie’s short, short hair was actually very cute.

“Rhythm of the Rain”

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